April, 2006 My Fellow Rotarians - Rotary's Global History Fellowship

District 6440 Histories 2005
heartwarming success stories. Additionally, the Club has given funds to many local groups including
Family Shelter Services. In 1988-89 the Club gave $10,000 and four hours work from each member to
Prairie Path Park near the Glen Ellyn train station. In 1989-90 the Club assisted a Mexican Club in
buying one used ambulance for use in suburban Mexico City. In the early 1990’s the Club appropriated
$9,000 to be used over three years for elementary and secondary scholarships in an impoverished
Mexico City suburb.
One of the Clubs first International projects in 1996-97 was with the Rotary Club of St. Thomas East
End. As part of hurricane re-building, our Club helped the St. Thomas East End Club create a reading
room for children for before and after school supervision and homework help. More recent International
projects include our Club helping the Wheaton Noon Club, in 2001-02 to fund the first MRI machine in
Peru. The machine was donated by a hospital in France. We helped to pay the cost of freight. In 2002-
03 we helped to plumb four grammar schools in Cochabamba, Bolivia which brought fresh water and
sanitation to more than 4000 students and their families. In 2003-04 we continued our work with our
Bolivian Rotarian partners. The project was so successful that we agreed to fund four more grammar
schools in Cochabamba. In 2004-05 we applied for and received a new grant to provide fresh water,
which will impact more than 4000 students and their families in four more schools in Bolivia. We are
just finishing this complex project as this report is being composed. This worthy project used up our
Clubs budget and our district allowance for grants for the year. Late in the fiscal year, we were asked if
we could fund a bus for an orphanage by a new graduate (PhD) before he returned to Uganda. Rather
than say no, we located a Club that was not using its district allowance and partnered with them. Our
thanks go to the Lombard Club for helping us. In 2005-06 our Club applied for a new grant to be funded
by four clubs (Oak Brook, Hinsdale-Oakbrook, Glen Ellyn, Jammu, India), district (6450 and 6440) and
RI. The Sahara School in India needs a bus to pick up children who need physical and speech therapy.
Our Club is also in the early stages of doing a project in India with a club from Denmark. This will be a
three country project including India, Denmark and the United States of America.
The Glen Ellyn Club has always supported local high school athletics. Every September, Glenbard
West and South Athletic Directors speak at our Club meeting about the upcoming athletic year. For
non-athletes the club has a “Significant Achievement Day”. Each spring six students from each high
school are honored for being outstanding contributors to their school life and their community. Citations
are awarded and full publicity given these students. Christmas 1947 started the tradition of an annual
holiday concert by the Glenbard West High School Choir. Since the establishment of Glenbard South
High School, the madrigal singers share their musical talents with the Club every Christmas. The Junior
High jazz bands and marching bands have also performed for the Club.
In recent years the Club has entertained an exchange student and three times sent a local student
overseas. The Club regularly submits applications for both district and national R.I. scholarships. A few
local students have received scholarships. Many pleasant events are enjoyed by Glen Ellyn Club
members and their spouses including, the annual Installation and Recognition dinner, wine and cheese
party, steak fry, Bull’s game, Kane County Cougar’s game, and theatre presentations, to name a few.
The social activities play a major role in maintaining the Clubs enthusiastic membership. The Club
welcomes new members and continues to grow.
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Rotary Club of Glencoe Chartered Dec. 9, 1929
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